Salary of aeronautical engineer in NASA: 2026 numbers
$58K–$197K
Pay Range
Langley, Glenn
Primary Centers
0861 Series
Job Classification
Aeronautical engineers at NASA primarily work at Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA), Glenn Research Center (Cleveland, OH), and Armstrong Flight Research Center (Edwards, CA). They focus on atmospheric flight — subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic research.
Pay by grade
| Grade | Base | Langley (+30%) | Glenn (+26%) | Armstrong (+28%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-7 | $42,898 | $55,800 | $54,100 | $54,900 |
| GS-9 | $52,490 | $68,200 | $66,100 | $67,200 |
| GS-11 | $63,526 | $82,600 | $80,000 | $81,300 |
| GS-12 | $76,148 | $99,000 | $95,900 | $97,500 |
| GS-13 | $90,568 | $117,700 | $114,100 | $115,900 |
Current aeronautics programs
| Program | Center | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| X-59 QueSST | Armstrong / Langley | Low-boom supersonic flight |
| Advanced Air Mobility | Langley / Glenn | Urban air transport, eVTOL |
| Hypersonics | Langley / Glenn | Scramjet, thermal protection |
| Sustainable aviation | Glenn | Electrified aircraft propulsion |
Aeronautical engineering roles at NASA are less common than aerospace (spacecraft) roles, so fewer positions open each year. Langley is the largest employer of aeronautical engineers in the agency.
For the full pay breakdown across all centers, see our NASA engineer salary guide and aeronautical engineering salary at NASA. Browse NASA positions on Zero G Talent.
